Sharing among jails

[User KATRINA]

I was wondering if there's a way I can share my main /usr/ports directory
with the jails I'm running.   I thought this would save me a LOT of space.
I tried just the standard "ln -s" to the ports directory when I log into
the jails and try to access the ports directory I get the following:

> cd ports
ports: Too many levels of symbolic links.

Is there a way I can share this directory with my jails.   Someone told me
to try a hard link but I haven't been able to find the info on how to do
this, (ln /usr/ports ports returns "ln: /usr/ports/: Is a directory") and
everyone else says not to use hard links at all.

Whats the best way to go about sharing this directory with my jails?